Apparatus for treating diseases of the ear.



N0. 660,233. Patented U012. 23,1900.

B. WATSON. APPARATUS FOR TREATING DISEASES OF THE EAR.

(Application filed 002.19, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

m: NbRmS PETERS 20.. womunm WASHINGTON, o. c.

Patented Oct. 23, I900. R. WATSON.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING DISEASES OF THE EAR.

(Application filed Oct. 19, 1898.)

2 Shaets-$heet 2.

I (No Model.)

wi bwu zea no STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT \VATSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASS IGNOR OFONE-HALF TO CHARLES A. KRAM, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING DISEASES OF THE EAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,233, dated October23, 1900. Application filed October 19, 1898. Serial No. 694,032 (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, ROBERT WATSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and usefullmprovements in Apparatus for Treating Diseases ofthe Ear, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved means for giving massage treatment tothe ear-drum; and it comprises an earpiece, one end of which is adaptedto fit into the outer ear, said earpiece being made hollow, so as toform an air-chamber, means for compressing the air within said chamber,so as to force the eardrum inward, a vent for releasing the air aftercompression, means for rarefying the air within the chamber, so as todraw the eardrum outward, and an inlet arranged to admit air into thechamber after rarefaction.

The instruments at present in use designed to give massage treatment tothe ear-drum in general consist of a tubular earpiece, within which theair is vibrated by means of a dia-- phragm or a close-fitting plunger;but such instruments are defective in that if the air is compressedagainst the ear-drum by the inward movement of the diaphragm or plungerthere is only expansion and no rarefaction of the air upon its outwardmovement, such as is necessary to draw the ear-drum outward andconversely. If the plunger be started from its inmost position, there israrefaction, but no subsequent compression, of the air within thechamber.

By my improvements I provide means for equalizing the ainpressure withinand without the chamber at the end of the stroke of the plunger, so thatcompression and rarefaction of the air may both take place.

In the accompanying drawings, which are illustrative of my invention,Figure 1 is a side view of the preferred form of my instrument, showingit connected to a battery and a circuit-breaker. Fig. 2 isa centrallongitudinal section through the instrument shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and4 are similar views of modifications, and Fig. 5 is a section on theline 5 5 of Fig. 4.

In the form of my apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 1 indicates anearpiece having a tapering forward end 2, adapted to fit into the ear.The earpiece is bored out centrally, as shown at 3, thus forming alaterally-inclosed air-chamber, which is open at its forward end. Thisearpiece is made of iron, and its larger end is surrounded by a helix 4,which is electrically connected by wires 5 to a battery or other sourceof electricity 6 and a suitable circuit-breaker 7. As shown, the helixis wound upon a tubular casing 80f non-magnetic material, which fits theearpiece closely, and the helix projectsa short distance above the endof the earpiece. Withinthe tubular casing 8, which forms a part of theairchamber, is an iron plunger 9, which fits the casing closely, but yetis free to be moved longitudinally therein without undue friction. Theplunger is attached by tensionsprings 10 to a cap 11 upon theouterend'of the tubular casing. A regulating-screw 12 extends throughthe center of the cap and limits the outward movement of the plunger. Itwill be seen that when current is sent from the battery through thehelix the plunger 9 will be drawn inward toward the earpiece against theaction of the springs 10 and that as soon as the circuit is broken thesprings 10 will draw the plunger against the screw 12. If the. plungerwere solid and no means provided for the passage of air to and from thechamber 3, it will be seen that if the smaller end 2 of the earpiecewere fitted tightly within the ear thein ward movement of the plungerwould compress the air and upon its return movement the air would expanduntil it regained its normal pressure and there would be no suction uponthe eardrum, or if the plunger were assumed. to

start from its inward position there would be suction during itsmovement outwardly, but no compression of the air within the chamberupon its return.

In order to have the air within the chamber alternately compressed andrarefied, I

provide valves which are arranged to equalize the pressure within andwithout the cha n1- ber at each end of the stroke of the plunger. Asshown in Fig. 2, the plunger. is provided with two openings 13 and 14,the opening 13 having a conical valve-seat 15 at its outer end and theopening 14 having a similar valve-.

seat 16 at its inner end. A conical valve 17 is fitted to the valve-seat15,and it is provided with a stem 18, extending through the opening 13and projecting slightly beyond the inner face of the plunger. The valveis held against its seat by a suitable compression-spring 19. A similarvalve is arranged to fit the seat 16, its stem 21 project ing throughthe opening and extending slightly beyond the outer face of the plunger,the valve being held to its seat by a compression-spring 22. Theadjusting-screw 12 is provided with a stop-plate 23 at its inner end,arranged to engage the end of the stem 21 when the plunger is in itsouter position.

The operation is as follows: When the earpiece is inserted into the ear,the circuitbreaker 7 is operated to complete and break the circuit asrapidly as is desirable, thus energizing and deenergizing the helix 4.WVhen the helix is energized, the plunger is drawn toward the earpiece,thus compressing the air within the chamber during the movement of theplunger. When the latter has nearly reached its inmost position, thevalve-stem 18 comes in contact with the end of the earpiece, thusforcing the valve 17 0E ofits seat and permitting the compressed air toescape through the vent or opening 13. When the circuit is interrupted,the springs 10 draw the plunger outward, and as soon as it starts on itsreturn movement the spring 10 will force the valve 17 to its seat,andduring the further outward movement of the plunger rarefaction of theair will take place within the chamber and the ear-drum will be drawnoutward. When the plunger approaches the outward limit of its stroke,the valve 20 becomes lifted from its seat by the contact of its stem 21with the stop 23 and 'air will rush in through the inlet 14 to theair-chamber. It will be seen that this action will be repeated as longas the completion and interruption of the current takes place, Thestroke of the plunger can be lengthened or shortened by means of theregulatingscrew 12.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 instead of employing spring-pressedvalves in the plunger the latter is formed with a central bore 25,which, as shown, extends from its inner face nearly to the opposite endof the plunger and with two small openings 26 and 27 arranged one abovethe other and extending from the opening 25 radially outward through theplunger. The casing 8 is provided with a perforation 28, with which theinlet-opening 27in the plunger registers when the latter is in itsoutermost position, as shown in Fig. 3, and with which the vent-opening26 registers when the plunger is in itsinnermost position. rods 29,which prevent it from turning within the casing. By means of the screw12 the let 40 and radial opening 41.

The plunger travels on guide and 27 is just equal to the length ofstroke of the plunger, so that when the latter has reached its inmostposition the opening 26 will register with the opening 23. Inward andoutward movements of the plunger are effected in the same manner as inthe form shown in Fig. 2. When the plunger moves inward from theposition shown in Fig. 3, the opening 27 will be out of register withthe per foration 28, and until the vent-opening 26 comes opposite saidperforation the air will be compressed within the air-chamber. When,however, the plunger has reached its inmost position, the air willescape through the openings 25 and 26 and the perforation 28. Upon thefollowing outward movement of the plunger no air will be admitted to theair-chamber until the inlet-opening 27 registers with the perforation inthe casing. This action will be repeated as long as the current throughthe helix is completed and broken. In this form of apparatus the lengthof the stroke of the plunger is always the same. In order to Vary thedegree of compression and rarefaction within the chamber 3, I provide anopening 30, extending through the wall of the earpiece into the chamber,through which air may escape and enter, the quantity of air passingthrough this opening being regulated by screw-valve 31.

In the form shown in Fig. 4 the plunger travels upon guide-rods 35,which are secured in the larger end of the earpiece and united at theirouter ends by a cap or cross piece 36. Instead of working within acasing, as in the devices shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the plunger in Fig. 4has a central smooth-bored opening 37, extending from its inner facenearly to the outer end, and a tube 38, forming the airchamber of theearpiece, extends upwardly into the opening in the plunger. This tube isopen at the top and is provided with perforations 39 and 40, with whicha radial opening 41 in the plunger is adapted to register at the limitsof its movement. The operation is very much the same as in the deviceshown in Fig. 3. When the plunger is in its outermost position, theair-chamber is in communication with the atmosphere through the in- Ifthe plunger moves inward, this communication is shut off and compressionof the internal air results until the limit of the stroke is reached,when the compressed air will escape through the vent 39 and opening 41.Upon the return of the plunger raret'action of the internal air willtake place until the opening 41 registers with the inlet 40. In thisfigure I have shown a regulating-valve 42 in the end of the plunger, bymeans of which the degree of compression and rarefaction may beregulated in the same way that it is regulated by the screw 31 in Fig.3.

The plungers in any of the forms of apparatus shown may consist entirelyof iron; but in order to make them light the outer parts of the plungersmay be made of wood or other ICC ' of the air is small and where theseoperations material suitably secured to the iron, if desired.

The automatic mechanical opening and closing of the vent and inlet portsat precisely the proper time is an important feature in a motor-operatedapparatus of this kind,where the amount of compression and rarefactionfollow each other in very rapid succession.

Without limiting myself to the forms of apparatus shown in the drawings,what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber, open at its forward end, saidchamber having a vent, of a reciprocating plunger-adapted to compressthe air within the chamber, and means for automatically opening the ventto equalize the air-pressures within and without said chamber aftercompression has been effected.

2. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, saidchamber having an inlet, of a reciprocating plunger adapted to rarefythe air within the chamber, and means for automatically opening theinlet to equalize the air-pressures within and without said chamberafter rarefaction has taken place.

3. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, of areciprocating plunger adapted to alternately compress and rarefy the airwithin the chamber, and means for automatically equalizing theair-pressures within and without said chamber after each operation ofcompression and rarefaction.

4. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, saidchamber having a vent, of a reciprocatin g plunger adapted to compressthe air within the chamber, said plunger being adapted to open the ventafter compression hasbeen effected, to equalize the air-pressures withinand without said chamber.

5. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, saidchamber having an inlet, of a reciprocating plunger adapted to rarefythe air within the chamber, said plunger also being adapted to open theinlet after rarefaction has been effected to equalize the air-pressureswithin and without said chamber.

6. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, saidchamber having a vent and an inlet, of a reciprocating plunger adaptedto alternately compress and rarefy the air within the chamber, saidplunger being adapted to open the vent and inlet after each operation ofcompression and rarefaction respectively, so as to 'equalize theair-pressu res within and without the chamber.

7. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-im closed air-chamber open at its forward end, of areciprocating plunger adapted to compress the air within the chamber,said plunger havinga vent therein, and means for opening said vent aftercompression to equalize the airpressures Within and without saidchamber.

8. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-i11- closed air-chamber open at its forward end, of areciprocating plunger adapted to rarefy the air within the chamber, saidplunger having an inlet therein, and means for opening said inlet afterrarefaction to equalize the airpressures within .and without saidchamber.

9. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, of areciprocating plunger adapted to alternately compress and rarefy the airwithin the chamber, said plunger having a vent and an inlet, and meansfor opening said vent and inlet after each operation of compression andrarefaction respectively, to equalize the airpressures within andwithout said chamber.

10. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, and meansfor alternately compressing and rarefying the air within said chamber,said chamber having a vent adapted to release the air after compressionand an inlet adapted to admit air after rarefaction, of means forregulating the degree of compression or rarefaction within the chamber.

11. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, and areciprocating plunger adapted to alternately compress and rarefy the airwithin the chamber, said chamber having a vent adapted to release theair after compression and an inlet adapted to admit air to the chamberafter rarefaction to equalize the air-pressures within and without saidchamber after each of said operations, of means for adjusting andlimiting the movement of the plunger.

12. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith a laterally-inclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, and meansfor alternately compressing and rarefying the air within said chamber,said chamber having a vent and an inlet normally closed during theoperations of compression and rarefaction, of automatic means for open-IIO ing said vent after compression has been effected and for openingsaid inlet after rarefaction has been effected.

13. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith the laterallyinclosed air-chamber open at its forward end, saidair-chamber having a vent, of means for com ressin the air Within thechamber and chamber and for automaticall 0 enin said 10 for antomatically opening said vent after compression to equalize the internaland external air-pressu res.

14. In an apparatus for treating diseases of the ear, the combinationwith the laterallyinclosed air-chmnberopen at its forward end, saidchamber having an inlet, of means'for automatically rarefying' the airWithin the inlet to equalize the internal and external airpressuresafter rarefaction has been effected. In testimony whereof I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT WATSON. \Vitnesses:

WILLIAM E. NEFF, J. A. WATSON.

